<p>I want to get into UCSD for biological anthropology. I know exactly who I want to work with and have a pretty clear idea of what I want to research.</p>
<p>I am very doubtful that I will be accepted to UCSD, though it is my top choice. I do not have the greatest GPA - it's a 3.4, or a 3.6 if I include the time I spent at a community college before coming to a four year institution to complete my BA (have no idea if I am supposed to include that?) and have not participated in very many projects outside of my general schooling. </p>
<p>Field experience and research are highly regarded in prospective anthropology graduate students, and I just haven't done that much in comparison with other undergrads I've spoken to. I have participated in two field schools (one in my home state during a weekend and one study abroad for two weeks) that were in forensic archaeology and biological archaeology respectively. I am also currently involved in an internship at a local museum in the archaeology department, but archaeology is not my primary field of focus so I don't know how much this will help me with a biological anthropology emphasis. I am working on a research project as well that is a review of existing literature - I am attempting to do a regional analysis of trauma and pathology within European Pleistocene populations based on existing site data since I can't collect my own data as an undergrad. I am going to attempt to present this at a conference in the spring, but I won't have much to show for it for grad apps except maybe an abstract.</p>
<p>I know I can secure at least one solid letter of recommendation, and am hoping to secure another from a top faculty member at my current institution (he has actually done work with this professor I want to work with at UCSD, so I am hoping a letter from him will improve my chances). I am still searching for a person to ask for my third letter.</p>
<p>I haven't taken the actual GRE yet, but I took a practice GRE tonight and got a 305 (159 verbal, 147 quant). Not great. I have two weeks until the GRE so I'm going to work as hard as I can to improve that. I don't know how important GRE scores are.</p>
<p>I'm also working hard on my statement of purpose. I'm going to a SOP workshop this week and I have some faculty members helping me edit it.</p>
<p>Their college admission site is also really focused on the importance of diversity within their student body and people who have experience with teaching and diversity. I teach citizenship and ESL classes to refugees (mostly from sub-Saharan Africa) and was planning on talking about that as well as my disadvantaged background. Will this help?</p>
<p>What are my chances of getting accepted? Can I do anything at this stage to make myself more competitive? Applications are due in January.</p>